Drawing Layer

The most common layer type is the Drawing layer. Any time you need to create a vector drawing or import a symbol, you can use a Drawing layer. In the Timeline view, the drawing layer is tagged with the Drawing icon.

Bitmap images are contained in Bitmap layers.

Bitmap Layer

If you import picture or bitmap images in your project, they are inserted in a Bitmap layer. If you choose to vectorize your image when you import, the Bitmap object will be placed on a Drawing layer. This way, you can have bitmap images mixed with vector drawings on a Drawing layer.

When importing a bitmap image, you have the option of encapsulating the image in a symbol. If you place a non-vectorized bitmap into a symbol, you still will not be able to mix vector drawings with it on the same layer. If you place a vectorized bitmap in a symbol, you must enter the symbol to be able to mix it with vector artwork.

In the Timeline view, the Bitmap layer is tagged with the Bitmap icon.

Camera Layer

You can only have one Camera layer at a time in your timeline. By default, there is no Camera layer when you create a scene. You need to add a Camera layer when you want to create a camera motion.

In the Timeline view, the camera layer is tagged with the Camera icon.

The Camera layer is not visible in the Xsheet view.

If you want to have several cameras with different settings, you can keep adding Camera layers in your Timeline view (however, only one will ever be visible at a time as you can only have one camera at a time in your timeline). To switch between the camera available, select Scene > Camera > select the desired camera.

Effect Layer

To enhance the look of your scene, you can add effect layers and attach your drawings to them. In Toon Boom Animate, there is a series of effect modules in the Module Library view.

In the Timeline view, the Effect layer is tagged with the Effect icon.

In the Xsheet view, you can see the Effect’s parameter columns in the Functions section when you select the Effect layer in the Timeline view.

Colour-Card Layer

The Colour-Card layer is used to add plain colour background to your scene. By default, your scene has no background colour and if you render it out as a QuickTime movie or image sequence it will have a black background.

In the Timeline view, the Colour-Card layer is tagged with the Effect icon.

The Colour-Card layer is not visible in the Xsheet view.

Peg Layer

A Peg layer can be described as a trajectory or motion path layer that does not contain drawings. This can be attached to any drawing layer, cut-out puppet or other peg layers, they will all follow the trajectory you set in the Peg layer.

In the Timeline view, the Peg layer is tagged with the Peg icon.

In the Xsheet view, you can see the Peg’s function columns in the Functions section when you select the Peg layer in the Timeline view.

Quadmap Layer

A Quadmap layer can be described as a deformation transformation layer that does not contain drawings. This can be attached to any drawing layer, cut-out puppet or even other peg layers they will all follow the deformation you set in the Quadmap layer.

In the Timeline view, the Quadmap layer is tagged with the Quadmap icon.

In the Xsheet view, you can see the Quadmap’s function columns in the Functions section when you select the Quadmap layer in the Timeline view.

Sound Layer

You can import sound files to add dialog and sound effects to your project. The sound layer will be added to your Timeline and Xsheet view when you import a sound file in your scene.